Veteran Marathi Actress Nayana Apte Honoured For Contribution To Cinema

Padma Shri awardee Nayana Apte, celebrated for her illustrious contributions to theatre, serials and films, commemorated a significant milestone in her career – completing 75 years as an actress and 70 years in theatre. To honour this achievement, the digital cover of her autobiography Pratibim and Shanta Apte’s Jau Me Cinemat will soon be unveiled, offering insights into her remarkable journey. The revised version of her autobiography was unveiled by the esteemed writer-director Ashok Samel, marking the occasion with heartfelt expressions of gratitude and reflection from Nayana.

The commemorative ceremony, held at the Kalidas Natya Mandir in Mulund, was graced by eminent personalities including Anand Mhasvekar, Makarand Kundle, Mukund Marathe and Mangala Khadilkar, among others. Nayana Apte’s husband, Vishvesh Joshi, also attended the event, which was organised under the auspices of Savaigandharva and Sanskrit Seva Nyas. Attendees paid touching tributes to Apte, acknowledging her unwavering dedication to her craft and encouraging today’s youth to draw inspiration from her remarkable journey.

Expressing her gratitude, Apte remarked, “I am deeply grateful to this organisation and all my fans for the honour bestowed upon me during this Amritmahotsav.” Veteran writer-director Ashok Samel was also felicitated at the event, receiving the esteemed dramatist Prabhakar Panashikar Jeevan Gaurav award alongside organ player Makarand Kundle. Singers Gyanesh Pendharkar, Nilakshi Pendharkar, Aparna Aparajit and Mukund Marathe, accompanied by tabla player Aditya Panvalkar, paid a musical tribute to Apte’s illustrious career.

The event further showcased a Kathak performance by Gayatri Dixit and Varada Nrityalaya, alongside a theatrical presentation featuring performances by Akash Bhadsawale, Praveenkumar Bharde, Atharva Gokhale and Swarali Garge. Apte herself graced the stage with an excerpt from her play Tilak-Agarkar, concluding the evening with a soulful musical rendition. The meticulously planned program, orchestrated by Akash Bhadsawale, featured a candid interview conducted by Mangala Khadilkar, adding a personal touch to the event, which served as a heartfelt tribute to Nayana Apte’s enduring legacy in the industry.